256 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



upon the beds for two or three years, became well-con- 

 ditioned and full-flavoured ; but the " Report of the Irish 

 Fishery Commissioners," in 1874, gave a most unsatisfac- 

 tory account of many of these fisheries ; and it is said that 

 the Carlingford beds, once so productive, are nearly 

 dredged out, and in 1876 the take did not exceed a few 

 thousands. The Wexford and Tralee beds were in the 

 same condition from over dredging and a succession of 

 bad spatting years. It is not lawful to sell oysters in 

 Ireland in the months of May, June, and July. The 

 Wexford men dredged for them, of course, in the other 

 months, but one reason of the beds being badly stocked 

 was, that in the closed months they were regularly dredged 

 by Beaumaris boats, which replenished their own exhausted 

 beds with them; and in 1863 a French lugger visited 

 Wexford seven times, carrying off on each occasion a large 

 quantity of oysters for " laying down ' on the French 

 coast. (I)) 



The amount of oysters taken on the principal natural 

 oyster-beds in 1876, off Arklow, was 7520 barrels of 450 

 each, large and small, at prices from i8/- to 24/6 per 

 barrel. In 1875, 13,640 barrels were taken. The Burran 

 Bank oysters are highly esteemed in Dublin, and are 

 called "Burton Bindons." They are brought from Kil- 

 kerran and Rossmuck Bays, in Galvvay, and are laid down 

 to fatten on the Red Bank oyster-bed in Aughinish Bay. 

 Formerly Mr. Burton Bindon was the possessor of these 

 beds, but now Mr. Singleton has succeeded him. 



There are oyster-beds in the Shannon, said in 1836 to 

 yield a revenue of ^1400 ; and formerly, there was a small 

 bed in Cork harbour, of no great extent, but the oysters were 



(b) " Morning Post," August 29th, 1864. 



